Revival

Revival builds on the tradition of cosmic horror, popularized by authors such as H. P. Lovecraft and Arthur Machen. Discuss the historical trends in this subgenre to explain how King contributes to it.

King’s novel is a critique of organized religion, in particular American evangelicalism. Jacobs’s contempt for his congregation, however, seems to extend past religion into a critique of American philosophy and the American way of life. Elaborate on this critique, citing examples from the novel.

Discuss the imagery King uses to characterize Jamie’s glimpse of the afterlife. How does it develop the novel’s themes?